Ian Gillan

Singer & Song writer with Deep Purple

Biography

Ian Gillan is a British musician and lyricist, best known as the Lead Singer of “Deep Purple.” Mr. Gillan began his musical career in the mid-1960s with his debut in “Episode Six.” His interest in music began at a young age, when at the age of 16 he decided to form his own musical group, “The Moonshiners.”

He found worldwide commercial success with the band “Deep Purple,” which he joined in 1969. During the next four years, the band worked to create 6 albums and the notable song “Smoke on the Water.” Mr. Gillan left the band in 1973, and joined “Black Sabbath” for one year as their vocalist. In 1976, Mr. Gillan's first album entered the UK and US charts, after which he achieved commercial success in the UK between 1979 and 1982.

Deep Purple reformed from 1984-1989, and again in 1992 in celebration of their 25th Anniversary. To date, Mr. Gillan continues to work with lead Guitarist Steve Morse to transform the group into a regular touring outfit, which he still fronts.

In 1989, Mr. Gillan performed at a Rock Aid concert in Armenia, and has since maintained great popularity there with the Armenian people. This led him to form the group “WhoCares,” together with fellow “Black Sabbath” member Tony Lommi, as a side project to Deep Purple. The project is aimed at helping Armenia after the north of the country was devastated by an earthquake in 1988. The group was originally formed on a return trip to Armenia where Mr. Gillan and Mr. Lommi were shown to a music school in Gyumri that had been heavily affected by the earthquake. The charity was thus set up to provide repairs, staff, and musical instruments for the school. In 2009, on the 20th Anniversary of Rock Aid Armenia, the project was awarded with the Republic's Orders of Honor.